Burglar alarm



Sept. 25, 1928.

T. R. CASTLES BURGLAR ALARM Filed April 5, 1927 24 7-7- URNE/ Patented Sept. 25, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE.

THOMAS R. CASTLES, F PORTLAND, OREGON.

BURGLAR ALARM.

Application filed April 5,

This invention relates generally to burglar alarms, and particularly to the spring motor driven type in which the alarm mechanism is actuated by the moving of a door or window.

The main object of this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and efiicient form of alarm and locking device which will effectively prevent the opening of a door or window, and at the same time announce andibly that such an attempt is being made.

The second object is to so construct the device that it will be useful in connection with either doors or windows and will form a positive lock for preventing the movement of the upper sash of a Window in a downward direction.

The third object is to so construct the device that it will lend itself to cheap manufacture and will be extremely sturdy and not apt to get out of order.

The fourth object is to provide a special form of hinged plate for contact with the door or window which can be made exceedingly thin and pointed so as to facilitate its introduction into a crack.

These, and other objects, will become more apparent from the specification following as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device in position on a window. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device used as in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device in position on the floor at the foot of a door. Figure 4 is a vertical section through the device as shown in Figure 3, taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 6, but with the door opened suflic-iently to release the alarm mechanism. Figure 5 is a bottom view of the device. Figure 6 is an end elevation of the device with the upper sash lock in a folded position. Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 77 in Figure 6 showing the manner of joining the parts.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the device itself consists of a somewhat wedgeshaped ease including a front 10 which is provided with a key slot 11 and a back 12. The members 10 and 12 are joined by a top plate 13 which is integral therewith. The narrow ends 14 of the members 10 and 12 are provided with teeth 15 to provide suitable engagement with the flooring or carpeting. V

1927. Serial No. 181,172.

The end member 16 is secured to the members 10 and 12 by the lugs 17 and 18 which pass through the member 16. The lugs 18 are turned to form bearings for the rod 19, one end of which is provided with a thumb piece 20 and the other end of which is bent to form a locking arm 21 whose end 22 engages the side of the sash 23. In some instances it is preferableto provide a rubber tip 24 for the arm 21 to prevent it from marring the woodwork.

The side of the end member 16 which engages the floor 25 or the runway 26 of a window is provided with a pair of points 27 at its corners. A spring 28 is placed around the rod 19 and urges the tip 24 toward the window. If it is not desired to use the tip 24 it is folded back between the members 10 and 12, as shown in Figure 5. The opposite end 29 of the member 16 is curved inwardly over the plate 13 on which plate is mounted a post 30 of the bell 31 which is placed underneath the curved end 29. The function of the curved end 29 is to hold the sash cord 32 away from the bell 31.

The operating mechanism of the alarm consists of a pair of side plates which are supported between the members 10 and 12 by the tubular pillars 34 and 35 through which are passed the screws 36. Between the plates 33 is mounted a winding key shaft 37 whose key 38 is used to wind a spring 39 which drives a wheel 40 which, in turn, drives a pinion 41 on the shaft 42 of the escape wheel 43. The escape lever 44 is mounted on a shaft 45 which also carries the arm 46 of the hammer 47. Obviously, any other type of spring motor could be employed to impart movement to the hammer 47,.

Over the top plate 13 is placed a loose trigger plate 48 whose end 49 is preferably provided with a rubber tip 50 on its under side and is connected to the member 13 by means of the two lugs 51 which pass loosely through the holes 52 in the plate 13 and are then bent to prevent same from coming out of the holes 52.

The opposite end of the member 48 is also provided with a downturned ear 53 which passes loosely through a hole 54 in the plate 13 but is held in contact with one side of the hole 54 by means of a spring 55 whose ends are held between the back 12 and the ear 53. The extreme end 56 of the member 48 engages the hammer 47 and prevents it from striking the bell 31 when the end 46 is separated from member adapted the plate 13, as shown in Figure 3, and permits the hammer 47 to operate when the plate 48 has been moved toward the plate 13 by the movement of a door or window, as previously mentioned.

It can be seen that by the use of this simple device it is possible to place a wedge under the door which will effectively prevent it from being opened and at the sametime sound an alarm for the purpose of calling attention to the act or for frightening away the unauthorized person.

H Again, it will be observed that the device functions equally well when used in conjunction'with a window 23 or-with a door 57.

When used with a windowthe arm 21 effectively locks the upper sash against downward movement. This does not sound the alarm, but would, in all probability, cause the intruder to try the lower sash. This is also effectively prevented from being opened, but any attempt to open same will sound the alarm, so that while the upper sash is not directly connected with the alarm releasing mechanism it tends to lead the intruder to operate the window which is connected to the alarm releasing mechanism.

Another advantage resulting from the use of this device consists in the extremely simple manner in which it can be set, making it operable by a mere child.

' Attention is drawn to my copending application, Serial No. 99,839 over which this device is an improvement.

I claim 1. A burglar alarm consisting of an alarm to be actuated by a slight movement of a window sash and to then lock said sash against further movement, in combination with a locking'member mounted on said alarm adapted to prevent movement of the opposite sash in the opposite direction.

2. A burglar alarm having in combination a wedge shaped frame having a bell mounted thereon and having a spring driven alarm mechanism within said frame for sounding said bell: and a floating door-engaging plate frictionally supported at one end above said wedge adapted to render said alarm mechanism operative when, said floating plate is moved toward said wedge.

3. A burglar alarm having in combination a wedge shaped frame having a bell mounted thereon and having a spring driven alarm mechanism within said frame for sounding said bell; a floating door-engaging plate frictionally supported at one end above said wedge adapted to render said alarm mechanism operative when said floating plate is moved toward said wedge; and with or without a lock mounted on said frame adapted to prevent the movement of an associated object toward the alarm member.

4.. A burglar alarm having in combination a wedge shaped frame adapted to be placed in the runway of a lower window sash behind its sash cord with the point of said wedge lowermost; a floating trigger plate frictionally supported in spaced relation to and away from said wedge, one end of said trigger plate having a point thereon adapted to enter the space between the window sash and its runvay; a bell and alarm train mounted on said wedge, said trigger plate releasing said alarm train when the frictional support for said trigger has been overcome by a moved object.

5. A burglar alarm having, in combination, a frame consisting of two spaced wedge shaped members having a flat integral joining plate along one long side of said frame, said frame having a U-shaped cross section and having an end formed across the wider side of said frame extending around a portion of its closed long side to form a bell guard; a bell mounted on said long side under said guard a spring motor an alarm escapement driven. by said motor adapted to sound said bell; a floating trigger plate frictionally supported at one end on said long side in a manner to intercept the alarm mechanism and resting on a fixed support at its opposite end which forms the fulcrum for the trigger; and a lock member for preventing the movement of an adjacent object consisting of a springurged lever angularly engaging said object in a manner to prevent its movement toward said alarm and adapted to be folded. between said wedge shaped frame members when not in use.

'6. A burglar alarm having in combination means for locking one sash of a window. and an alarm means adapted to be actuated by the movement of the other sash of said window.

THOS. R. 'GASTLES. 

